Eight area firms awarded subcontractor contracts to work on Speedway project

Sunday

Aug 25, 2013 at 6:16 PMAug 26, 2013 at 1:48 AM

The general contractor for Daytona International Speedway's $400 million renovation has taken steps toward making good on its pledge to hire local companies to work on the project dubbed “Daytona Rising.”

By JEFFREY CASSADYjeffrey.cassady@news-jrnl.com

DAYTONA BEACH — The general contractor for Daytona International Speedway's $400 million renovation has taken steps toward making good on its pledge to hire local companies to work on the project dubbed “Daytona Rising.”Barton Malow, the Michigan-based general contractor for Daytona Rising, has awarded contracts for work on the project to eight Volusia County companies and plans to award more after an October outreach forum for companies interested in becoming subcontractors, said Lenny Santiago, a spokesman for the Speedway.“It's quite a bit of work,” said Joe Zapert, president of Port Orange surveying firm Sliger & Associates, which has been hired to do surveying for the planned overhaul of the Speedway's frontstretch grandstands.Improvements include new seating throughout the frontstretch grandstands, and more food venues, restrooms and concession stands, as well as construction of five new fan entryways.The Speedway broke ground on the project July 5 and estimates it will generate about 4,000 jobs before it is completed in early 2016.More contracts for work will be awarded in coming months. Barton Malow and the Speedway, which held a Daytona Rising subcontractor outreach forum in July that drew more than 200 people, decided to hold a second one in October because of the large number of companies expressing interest in working on the project, Santiago said.As was the case in July, Barton Malow and the Speedway say they will be giving preference to Volusia-Flagler companies and women- and minority-owned businesses.Barton Malow currently is taking bids — due by mid-September — for work on signage, landscaping and fencing, Santiago said.The project continues to be good news for local companies, said Sandy Burke Bishop, executive director of the Volusia Building Industry Association.“The power of that project is huge — the dollar amount,” Bishop said. “The more we can keep in the local companies, the better.”Zev Cohen & Associates of Ormond Beach has been doing civil engineering work on the Daytona Rising development site for the better part of two years, said Bobby Ball, the company's director of engineering.Other local companies working on the project include Dave's Pest Control of Port Orange, P&S Paving of Daytona Beach, AAA Fence Co. of Daytona Beach, Coleman Goodemote Construction Inc. of Daytona Beach, Economy Electric Co. of Daytona Beach and R.A. Scott Construction Co. of Daytona Beach.